COLOR AND MATERIAL AS MEANS OF FORMING IMAGERY IN CONTEMPORARY UKRAINIAN SMALL-SCALE SCULPTURE

Abstract

The aim of the article is to examine the role of color, material, and patina as the key means of forming artistic imagery in contemporary Ukrainian small-scale sculpture. Psychological, aesthetic, and technological aspects of the interaction between color and material texture within the sculptural image are analyzed, where color functions not only as a decorative element but also as a conceptual carrier of meaning. The study identifies a tendency toward the integration of color, texture, and material into some unified figurative and plastic structure, which transforms traditional approaches to sculptural perception. Patina, which historically has performed a protective function, is interpreted in contemporary artistic practice as an artistic category embodying ideas of time, memory, and spiritual transformation, thereby enhancing the emotional and semantic expressiveness of the sculptural image. Methods. The research is based on the methods of artistic-plastic, comparative, and psycho-aesthetic analysis, as well as visual observation and semantic generalization, enabling the examination of interactions between color, material, texture, and form in contemporary small-scale sculpture. Results. The study reveals an increasing role of color and material as components of figurative thinking in contemporary Ukrainian small-scale sculpture. Innovative patination technologies — electrochemical treatment, laser toning, nanocoatings, and the combination of metals with polymer materials — expand expressive possibilities and contribute to the emergence of new artistic imagery. Color acquires symbolic meaning and shapes the emotional and psychological field of the artwork, while patina functions as a carrier of temporal and cultural meanings, serving as a metaphor for historical memory and spiritual depth. Conclusions. Color, material, and patina in contemporary Ukrainian small-scale sculpture act as fundamental means of forming artistic imagery and carriers of emotional and semantic content. Their interaction ensures the integrity of the sculptural image, deepens perception, and intensifies psychological engagement between the artwork and the viewer. The application of innovative technologies expands the artistic language of small-scale sculpture, where materiality and color become integral components of contemporary artistic thinking.